Air India Express Flight Faces Prolonged Delay Over Technical Issue, Safety Questions Rise

Air India Express’s Kolkata‑Chennai service on August 12 was held up for about six hours following the discovery of a technical problem with the aircraft.

The flight was meant to depart at 06:30 with 170 passengers. Boarding had already been completed when engineers identified a fault that made take‑off unsafe. The airline did not provide passengers with immediate information regarding the cause or expected resolution time.

As the hours ticked by, a group of annoyed travelers began a peaceful demonstration inside the airport, demanding transparency and assistance. The airport’s public address system finally relayed a revised schedule after 11:30 a.m., and the plane left the runway at 12:00 p.m.

Airport officials explained that the issue could not be resolved quickly and that arranging an alternative aircraft on such short notice was not possible. They also noted that the airline chose not to reveal details of the malfunction.

The episode intensified concerns about flight safety, especially after Air India’s AI‑2379 flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced an unexpected 300‑foot altitude drop on August 4, leading to injuries and mandatory drug tests for the pilots. Many of the delayed passengers said the hold‑up affected business meetings, family gatherings, and other commitments.